South Korea’s medical tourism boom drives record foreign spending

South Korea is rapidly emerging as a leading destination for medical tourism. The Ministry of Health and Welfare reported that 2 million foreign patients visited the country in 2025, a 71.7 % rise from the previous year, with the majority coming from China, Japan, Taiwan and the United States. Industry leaders such as Donkyo Seo, CEO of Himedi, and Heamin Lee, CEO of Creatrip, cite lower costs, high-quality care and government‑regulated pricing as key attractions.

In the first half of 2026, foreign visitor numbers to Seoul rose 21 % to 8.23 million, and credit‑card spending by these tourists reached a record 5.62 trillion won, up 56.8 % year‑on‑year. Medical and wellness services accounted for 24.4 % of that spending, and together with shopping made up 70.8 % of all foreign consumption. Card‑transaction data from BC Card show a 53.6 % increase in overall foreign card usage, with medical‑related purchases jumping 75 % and pharmacy spending soaring over 1,100 %. The trend reflects a shift from pure sightseeing to combined health, beauty and cultural experiences among international visitors to South Korea.